Platen roll release for hectograph machines



Oct. 31, 1933. JAGGER 1,933,174

PLATEN ROLL RELEASE FOR HECTOGRAPH MACHINES Filed Oct. 8. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0d. 31, 1933. H JAGGER 1,933,174

PLATEN ROLL RELEASE FOR HECTOGRAPH MACHINES Filed Oct. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 cw J6 w I I f Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PLATEN=ROLL RELEASE FOR HECTOGRAPH MACHINES Hubert Jagger, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ditto. Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of West Virginia Application October 8, 1930. Serial No..487,178

12 Claims. (01. 101 133) The invention relates to duplicating machines and has reference more particularly to a novel form of carriage construction for the type of duplicators known'as hectograph machines.

In the operation of this type of duplicator, the carriage which constitutes the active impression member is adapted for forward and rearwardmovement over the surface of a fiat platen and is also constructed so as to have a hinging action which allows the carriage to be swung into inoperative position. Operatively associated with the carriage is an impression roller adapted to have engagement with the surface of the platen, which serves to impress the blank sheets of paper upon the gelatin matrix.

It is often found necessary to lift the impres-.

sion roller from impression even after part of the blank sheet has been impressed, since the sheet may be irregularly placed on the platen or mayeven tear during the operation, in which case, of course, it must be removed. Forremoval it is necessary to free the roller from contact with the gelatin surface and to this end one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel form of carriage construc-' tion, having means for locking the impression roller in the pressed position and other mechanism for conveniently releasing the lock when desired.

Another object is to provide a carriage construction which will embody a pivotally mounted impression roller adapted to be conveniently locked in operative position and which will also be capable of automatic release when the carriage reaches its end position. v

A still further object is to provide a carriage construction embodying a pivotally mounted impression roller adapted to be automatically locked in position when depressed and which will be provided with means for manually re' leasing the look when desired.

A yet further object is to provide a carriage construction for association with the type of machines as described, adapted to be operated by means of a handle, which would also embody mechanism for releasing the automatic locking means.

A yet further object is to provide a carriage construction which will embody a pivotally mounted impression roller and one which will be provided with means for allowing convenient detachment of said roller for cleaning purposes.

A further object is to provide a" novel form of carriage construction adapted to meet the requirements of hectograph machine work-which will be positive and reliable in operation and easy to manufacture.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in thespe ciflcation, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa hectogra'ph machine showing the construction for mounting the carriage for .travel over the platen surface.

Figure 2 is afragmentary plan view of a hectograph carriage showingfeatures of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken transversely of the carriage, showing the locking and releasing mechanism comprising the present invention;

Figure 4 is aview similar to Figure 3'but showing the locking mechanism in released polsition; and f e e t Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 3 showing the association of the. triplock with the end stopmember.

Referring to the drawings it will .be noted that the present invention isadapted to be associated with a conventional type "of hectograph machine, comprising a set of side frames 10, having formed on their upper surface a track 11,. which frames are spaced from each other and held in set relation by suitable tie bars not shown. A sliding bar 12, secured in end members 13 extends longitudinally of the machine on one side thereof and is adapted to support, so as to allow sliding movementin relation to the machine, a hinging member 14. A fiat platen 15 issupported from the upper portion of the frames and has the usual gelatin matrix or band 16 supported thereon. The band is wound upon. spindles 17 and 18, journaled inthe side frames at each end thereof, the spindles being adapted to be rotated inthe direction desired for securing a clean portion of the bandupon the flat platen whenever necessary. a a

The hinging member 14 which is adapted to have reciprocating movement upon the bar 12 comprises a U-shaped member, Figure 2, having legs 19 and a connecting portion 20. The connecting portion is adapted to have sliding engagement on the bar 12, while the. legs have suitably secured to them by pins 21 thecarriage frame to be presently described.

at each end with side extensions 35 of the shape tral shaft 38, which impression roller is located lever 52 pivoted toone of the end frames 24- The carriage frame comprises two side members 22 and 23 respectively joined at their ends by end frame members 24. One of the side members, viz, the member 22, is preferably provided with threaded portions 25 for securing in position in the desired location to the carriage frame a copy holderdesignated in its entirety by 26. Also secured to the carriage frame by means of a threaded member 2'7 is a wheel 28 whichis adapted to have bearing upon the tracks 11. It is therefore seen that the entire carriage construction comprises the hinging member 14 and the carriage frame as described together have reciprocating movements over the surface of the platen. As a means for decreasing the frictional resistance of this movement, the carriage frame is provided on both sides with the wheels 28.

The impression member comprises a rubber roller between which and the gelatin surface is located the blank sheet to be duplicated. For allowing proper insertion of these sheets it is necessary that the rubber roller. be'lifted off impression and after insertion of the sheets, to be returned to impression position so that the blank sheets are held in contact with t e surface of the gelatin matrix. For this purpose the carriage frame has pivotally mounted therein a handle arm 30 having a handle 31 secured thereto, the arm being pivotally mounted in the carriage frame by means of a pivot rod 82. 'A spring 33 is provided for maintaining the handle arm in raised position. The spring has'one end secured to the pivot rod 32 as at 34 and its other end firmly secured to the side frame'23 of the carriage frame. The handle arm is provided as shown, said extensions'being provided at their depending end with a fork portion 36. The extensions provide the journaling means, for the rubber impression roller 37, provided with a cenwithin the forked portion 36 and secured therein by a plate member 40/ Theplate member. is pivotally secured to each extension by an adjusting screw 41 and is held in its desired position by means of a plunger 42. This'plate member provides the means for holding the shaft 38 within the extensionsas the plate is provided with a'horizontal finger 43, Figure 3, adapted to engage the shaft and hold the same within the forked portion 36. When it becomes necessary to clean the impression member 37, the same can be easily removed by actuation of the plunger 42 whichallowsthe plate member 40 to rotate in relation to the extensions and thus frees the shaft 38 therefrom;

Operatively associated with the impression roller37 is a pressure roller 45 adapted to be journaled at each end by means of a'hanger 46, which hanger is pivotally supported from the end frames 24 by means of a pin 47 and threaded securing means 48, The hanger is' spring pressed in a direction so that the pressure roller 45 will A pin 51 serves to prevent the hanger 46 from being pressed in an outward direction beyond the required limit. v l

The locking mechanism comprises a locking by means of a pin 53 secured in place on the frame 24. The pressure means for keeping'thelocking lever pressed in its desired direction .comprises a spring, 54 located on the shaft 47,

which spring is provided with an arm 55 having engagement against the locking lever 52. The other arm of the spring is secured to the hanger 46 as shown. Referring particularly to Figure 3 it is seen that the locking lever is provided with an outstanding. portion 56, which portion is adapted for engagement with a ledge 57 provided in one of the members 40 for the purpose. It is therefore seen that upon actuation of the handle 31 in a direction to depress the impression roller 37, the locking lever 52 will be allowed to swing in a direction toward the left as viewed in Figure 3, so that the portion 56 is positioned over the ledge 57. This interengagement of these parts provides a lock for the handle arm' 30 and thus for the impression roller 37, maintaining the latter in impression upon the gelatin surface.

For tripping the locking lever a trip lever 60 is provided secured preferably by threaded means to a shaft 61, which shaft is journaled in the bearing 62 integralwith the handle arm 30. To the outer end of the shaft is fixedly secured a pawl 63. A stop pin 64 is provided in the end frame 24 for the purposeof limiting the upward movement of the pawl. By actuation of lever 60 and thus rotation of shaft 61, the pawl 63 will engage the locking lever 52, forcing the same. towards the right, as viewed in Figure 3, freeing the portion 56 from engagement with the ledge 57 and allowing the handle arm to assumeits released position which automatically occurs due to the resiliency of spring A feature of the present invention resides in the mechanism located within the handle 31' by which the trip lever 60 can be actuated by the operator and which, by reason of its location Within the handle 31, presents a neat appearance and is in position for ready actuation. The handle 31 is provided with a centrally located bore 65 having a flared upper end' into which is fitted a sleeve 66. The sleeve is provided with an enlargement 67 on one end and is secured to the handle arm 30 by screw threads provided on its opposite end. This construction serves to rigidly secure the handles 31 to the armBO. The actuating means for engaging lever 60 comprises a shaft 68 having a head 70, the shaft being located within the sleeve 66 and extending slightly beyond the lower face ofthe'handle arm 30. A coil spring 71 located within the enlarged portion of the bore 65 surrounds vthe shaft 68 and engages the head and a washer 72 supported upon the flared end of sleeve 67. For actuating the trip lever 60 by the above construction, it is seen that it is only necessary to depress head 70 to cause movement of shaft 68 in a direction to engage the triplever 60 and thus rotate shaft 61 to trip lever 63, as described. Upon releasing the pressure upon head 70 the spring 71 will function to return the shaft to its normal position. The distance which the shaft 68 musttravel to cause sufiicient rotation of shaft6l to trip the locking mechanism is such that the head 70 must be depressed s'lightlybelow the upper surface of handle 31. Depression of the head 70 can 7 therefore only be caused by the thumb or one of the fingers of the operator, thereby preventing inadvertent actuation of the trip lever 60 by the depression of the head 70, by the palm of the operators-hand when the same is located over the handle, as is sometimes the case when the handle is hurriedly grasped to cause travel --of the carriage over the fplatenYsurface. reason of thepresent construction a definite act 'isnecessary to' cause tripping of the locking mechanism'since the shaft 68 must be moved a requireddistance andthis can only. be caused by positive engagement of head 770 and the application of sufficient pressure to 'press the same below the upper surface of handlei3l.-

It'is desirable *whenthe'carriage is located in its forward j position, that is, in a position at the extreme lefthand end of the frame as viewed in Figure-1' to have the impression roller automatically assume its released position. This is' accomplishedby means of a stationary stop .75 secured to the side frame 10 by means of a engagement with the ledge on the plate 40 inmuch the same manner as accomplished by depression of head 70. It is therefore seen that the locking mechanism may be released by manually operated means whenever desired and also released by automatic means when the carriage is located in its forward position.

In order that impression roller 37 may have a positive rotation in a direction as required by reciprocations of the carriage, the same is provided with a groove wheel '78 adapted to have wound on it several turns of a cord 80. The cord is secured at one end to the forward part of the side frames 10 and at its other end to the corresponding rearward part of the side frame. Thus in operation of the carriage the handle is grasped by the operator and after insertion of a blank or master copy between the impression roller 37 and the pressure roller 45, the same is depressed to lock the impression rollor and the paper in impressed position. The car,- riage is then reciprocated by the operator over the surface of the platen to duplicate the matter thereon to the blank sheet or matrix. As the carriage is moved towards the left, as viewed in Figure 1, it approaches its extreme left hand position, so that the locking lever 52 will be thrown into trip position by reason of its bent portion '77 striking the stationary stop 75. This will automatically free the impression roller from its locked position, thus allowing removal of the duplicated sheet and insertion of another blank sheet, whereupon the operation can be repeated.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a carriage construction for duplicating machines comprising a pivotally mounted handle arm, an impression roller journaled in said arm, means for locking said arm and thus said roller in depressed position, and a handle secured to said arm and provided with actuating means for releasing said locking means.

2. In a carriage construction for duplicating machines comprising a pivotally mounted handle arm, an impression roller journaled in said arm, means for locking said arm and thus said roller in depressed position, and a handle secured to said arm and provided with depressible'means for releasing said lockingmeans;

"3.'- In a'carriage' construction for duplicating ma'chines comprising a pivotally'mounted handle arm provided with "side extensions, an impression roller journaled in saidfextensions, a :ledge provided in oneiof said extensions; a locking lever adapted for engagement with said ledge forholding the arm in depressed-position,

a trip lever, a handle securedto said arm, a.nd"-

depressible means provided in'saidhandle for actuating said trip lever.

4. Ina duplicating machine,-'a carriage 'cornprising end frame members,'a handle-'arini-plw. otally mounted within said end frames, an im- F pression member journaled in said handle arm, a locking lever adapted for engagement with said arm, a trip pawl, a handle secured to said arm, a shaft mounted in said handle, and means connected to said trip pawl for engagement by said shaft to cause tripping of said pawl.

5. In a duplicating machine, a carriage comprising end frame members, a handle arm pivotally mounted within said end frames, a looking lever for maintaining said arm in depressed cured to the arm and depressible means mounted in the handle axially thereof.

7. In a duplicating machine comprising end frame members, a handle arm pivotally mounted within said frames, a handle secured to said arm and provided with a bore, a shaft mounted in said bore and resilient means also mounted in said bore for maintaining the shaft in normal position.

8. In a duplicating machine comprising end frame members, a handle arm pivotally mounted within said frames, means locking said arm in I depressed position and means for releasing said locking means comprising a handle and depressible means located in said handle for actuation by the thumb of the operator.

9. In a duplicating machine comprising end frame members, a handle arm pivotally mounted within said frames, means locking the arm in depressed position, means for releasing the lock,

comprising a trip lever, a handle, and depressible means in the handle constructed and arranged for depression below the surface of the handle before releasing of the lock takes place.

10. In a duplicating machine, a carriage com-. prising end frame members, a handle arm pivotally mounted withinsaid frames, extensions on said arm, an impression roller journaled in said extensions, a ledge provided in one of said extensions, a locking lever pivoted to one end frame and adapted to engage said ledge to hold the arm in depressed position, a trip lever for manually releasing said locking lever, and means for actuating said trip lever comprising a handle secured to the arm and depressible means in said handle adapted when depressed to engage the trip lever, said depressible means constructed and arranged to require depression below the upper surface of said handle before releasing of the locking lever takes place.

11.-In a duplicating machine, a platen, a carriage mounted to be reciproeated over the platen, an impression roller, means movably mounted in the carriage for journaling said impression roller, a handle secured to said movably mounted meansflwhereby it may be displaced to bring said roller intoand out of a functionally operative position with respect to said platen, means for locking said movably mounted means with said roller in its functionally operative position, and meansincluding, a movable member carried by said handle for releasing said locking means.

12. In a duplicatingmachine, a platen; a cari riage mounted to be reciprocated over the platen,

roller in its functionally operative position, and

means including a movable member projecting through said handle for releasingsaid locking means.

HUBERT JAGGER. 

